How Axl Rose & Izzy Stradlin Cast ‘Dark Cloud’ Over Guns N’ Roses A Few Years Ago Revealed By Guitarist

In a new interview with Australia’s Collision radio show, former Guns N’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke discussed reconnecting with his former bandmates at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in 2012, and how there was a ‘dark cloud’ due to Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin’s absence.

“The Hall of Fame induction was surreal, because I think it was a surprise to all of us. When it all was going down, it was kind of like a dark cloud, because no one was really looking forward to it. It was such an awkward situation, because Axl [Rose, vocals] had made it clear he wanted no part of it, Izzy made it clear he wanted no part of it.

I know Slash and Duff really wanted to do something special, and that performance really didn’t come together until, honestly, the day before. I got a call from Duff. He said, ‘Hey, Gilby, we decided we’re gonna play. We’d really love you to come up and play with us.’ And I had no intention of going — we all had tickets and stuff — but being that the guys asked me to play, I [said] I would go and play with the guys.”

Clarke said that he “actually did have fun. I really enjoyed playing with Steven,”

“That was really nice. Myles [Kennedy] is a class act. He can just get up there and do his thing, and he’s got great balls and he does a great job, and that was extremely impressive.”